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Friday, December 30, 2011

Why I'm Hugging my Mail Today... Because it took Years to get Here

Guess what I got in the mail today? 

This little beauty:

An actual hardcover from the first printing of EVERNEATH.

And just like any newborn, it has a spine. 

I actually got two copies. Sam said we should keep one of them exactly like it is, and not besmirch it with my signature. Thanks, Sam. I would hate to ruin it by writing my name in it. 

Here's the truth:
When I opened the package from HarperCollins, I just sat there in my study for about half an hour, staring at the book. I thought about the journey to get to this point, the culmination of factors both in and out of my control, the multitude of people who contributed to this little clump of bound pages. 

There's not enough room on the spine to list them all, but there should be! And those names deserve to be there, mostly because I just spelled "should" as "shood" and my book would've been full of "shood"s without a giant team backing me up. 

I tried to get all eloquent about the monumental effort that this book symbolizes, but then I realized the book is the perfect size and shape to make it very huggable, and so I shall forget the big words and sentiments, and I'll just hug it for a little while.

While I'm at it, let me just say a big thank you to all y'all who have been reading this blog, and taking this journey with me. I love everybody today. 

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34 comments:

  1. Kristin Lynn ThetfordDecember 30, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Ahhhhhhhhh! Brodi! I am SO excited for you! *tosses buckets of confetti and tiny sparkly stars*

    You hug that book for a good long while. :)

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  2. Jodi MeadowsDecember 30, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    SQUEEEEEEEE!!!! Look at that GORGEOUS BOOK! *fans self*

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  3. Lynsey NewtonDecember 30, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Sparkly, cant wait to read it!

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  4. Suze ReeseDecember 30, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    Congratulations Brodi! What a wonderful feeling!

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  5. Lori M. LeeDecember 30, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    YAY!!! It's gorgeous! What a great way to end the year :D

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  6. John AbramowitzDecember 30, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    Congrats!!!!!! The cover is gorgeous.

    Also, thanks for the reminder that other writers also need giant teams backing them up to help their work not suck / be full of errors.

    Logically, I always know it, but when I'm working on a book, especially when it's not going well, it's easy to look at other people's completed books and go, "Man, bet THEY'D be smarter than this..."

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  7. DeltayDecember 30, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    That's so exciting - congratulations!

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  8. AmyG@YA-SisterhoodDecember 30, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Congrats! It's beautiful on the inside and out!!!

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  9. S.P. BowersDecember 30, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    Congrats. Just keep hugging it while.

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  10. S.P. BowersDecember 30, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    That was supposed to be "awhile". Guess I need a team of specialists just for blog comments.

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  11. Joy N. HensleyDecember 30, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    It is gorgeous!

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  12. Leigh AnnDecember 30, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    Ohhhh goodness. Oh my gosh.

    I would have sat with it for a full hour and WEPT. I admire your restraint.

    So so many congratulations. I could not be more excited for you!

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  13. CoranneDecember 30, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    It looks beautiful! Congratulations!

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  14. Donna K. WeaverDecember 30, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    Oooo . . . it's party time!

    Brodi, I can't even imagine what it must be like to hold something you created (especially now that I know just how much is involved in this writing thing). Well, besides my babies. They didn't even take as long to bake as my books have.

    Congratulations. You totally deserve this because your book is awesome.

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  15. SamDecember 30, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    I decided against my earlier advice of not signing it. I signed it with my name.

    I am so proud of you Bro. You totally rock. I could stare at that book for hours too.

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  16. Angela BrownDecember 30, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    You have given birth to something beautiful. It has taken some time, but it has come into the world all pretty and beautiful, the spine and hardcover in tact just as you'd dreamed.
    Three cheers to seeing your dream come true...and hugging it.

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  17. Shari ArnoldDecember 30, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    It is a beautiful book. I would hug it too if I had a copy...
    Congrats!!=)

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  18. Jenni ElyseDecember 30, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    Congratulations, Brodi! That's so exciting! I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to buy my own copy in less than a month and I will have you besmirch it with your signature. :)

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  19. PaulaDecember 30, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    So excited for you!!!

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  20. AndreaDecember 30, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    It's soo pretty!!! I can't wait to buy mine and I want your name written in it! super excited for your release party!

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  21. Mundie MomsDecember 30, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. Mundie MomsDecember 30, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    It's BEAUTIFUL! Enjoy every moment petting/staring at that beautiful cover.

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  23. Brodi AshtonDecember 30, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    Thanks so much everyone!

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  24. KeerstenDecember 31, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Congrats Brodi! It's so beautiful!

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  25. nielsons*love*familyDecember 31, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    wow! two hip hip hoorays in one week! thrilled for you....it's the prettiest book EVER!

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  26. Sara JarmanDecember 31, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Hooray!!! I'm so excited to read it, congratulations brodi!!! I fully expect you to deface/grace the inside of my cover with a signature :)

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  27. Book SakeDecember 31, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    That has to be a really great feeling to get your totally real, it totally happened, you did it, copy! Congrats. I really enjoyed the ARC I received of your book - congrats, congrats, congrats!
    - Jessica @ Book Sake

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  28. Vi Win WinJanuary 1, 2012 at 8:24 AM

    Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! I can't wait to get my copy and for you & everyone else to read my review! Only a few more weeks now!

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  29. AnnalisaJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:13 PM

    Awesome. That must be an amazing feeling. I have to say your book has the prettiest cover I have ever seen. I want to own it just so I can look at it and drool a little bit.

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  30. UnknownJanuary 2, 2012 at 9:03 PM

    Gorgeous, gorgeous! What an amazing feeling that must have been , unwrapping that parcel...

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  31. Laura AyersJanuary 3, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    I usually get all my books on my nook now, but there are a few special books that I actually want to hold. I think this is one of them! I'm so proud of you & excited for you :) I'm glad to hear it's huggable size.

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  32. Jocelyn ChristensenJanuary 3, 2012 at 5:30 PM

    Hey Brodi! I haven't been keeping up with your blog, but I am glad that I read about your book on Twitter tonight! This is such awesome news! I'm so happy for you!!! Congratulations! Hard work (and talent) has paid off! Can't wait to read it!

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  33. Greg and Kimberly ...January 6, 2012 at 3:13 PM

    I can only imagine what that would feel like, way to go!!!! So happy for you!!

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  34. CathJanuary 6, 2012 at 8:29 PM

    Just plain AWESOME. "I thought about the journey to get to this point, the culmination of factors both in and out of my control, the multitude of people who contributed to this little clump of bound pages. " You are truly amazing and I have loved watching your journey come to fruition. So happy for all the great support you have! Love ya Brod!

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